With the semifinal victory, the 2013 U.S. GYNT will go on to win the first world championship medal for the United States for either gender at the youth or junior level. The U.S. (6-1) will play China (5-2) in Sunday’s gold medal match at 4 p.m. local time (2 a.m. PT). China defeated Peru in the semifinals, 17-25, 22-25, 25-20, 25-19, 23-21.

On Saturday, after the U.S. came back from a 9-6 deficit to win the fourth set, the match came down to the fifth-set tiebreaker. With the score tied 12-12, Alexa Smith (Colorado Springs, Colo.) entered the match to serve and Simone Lee (Menomonee Falls, Wis.) came through with a kill. The U.S. reached match point at 14-12 on a Brazil net violation and Mikaela Foecke (West Point, Iowa) won the match with a final kill.

“It’s a great win for this group of players,” U.S. GYNT Head Coach Jim Stone said. “Obviously, given the scores, the match could have gone either way. I am most pleased that we came from behind several times in the match, which is a real compliment to their competitiveness and teamwork.

“Everyone is looking forward to a great match tomorrow.”

The GYNT led Brazil in kills (56-53) and also took advantage of 30 Brazil errors while committing 22. Brazil led in blocks (12-11) and in aces (6-4).

“I think both teams played very well,” U.S. Team Captain Taylor Tashima (Wilmette, Ill.) said. “It was such a great game. I’m really proud of my team. We are happy to be in the final for the first time in our history."

The GYNT’s previous best world championship finish was fourth in 2003 and ’05. The GYNT is ranked No. 5 in the world and serves as part of the high performance pipeline to the U.S. Women’s National Team, which is ranked No. 1 in the world.

On Saturday, Foecke led the United States with 17 points on 13 kills, three blocks and one ace. Audriana Fitzmorris (Overland Park, Kan.) added 14 points on eight attacks, a match-high five blocks and one ace. Smith scored 11 points on 10 kills and one block.

Lee totaled 10 points on nine kills and one block. Tia Scambray (Monarch Beach, Calif.) contributed nine points on nine attacks. Setter Jordyn Poulter (Aurora, Colo.) scored five points on three kills, one block and one ace. She was also credited with 29 running sets.

Molly Haggerty (Glen Ellyn, Ill.) scored four points on four kills. Molly Sauer (Louisville, Ky.) added one point with an ace.

Libero Kenzie Maloney (Louisville, Ky.) was credited with a team-high nine digs while Maloney led in excellent receptions with 15.

Stone started Poulter at setter, Fitzmorris and Foecke at middle blocker, Scambray and Smith at outside hitter, and Lee at opposite. Maloney was the libero for the match. Haggerty started the fourth and fifth sets at outside hitter. Sauer and Hayley Hodson (Newport Beach, Calif.) played as substitutes.

The U.S. got off to a slow start in the first set as Brazil took a 7-1 lead and won the set 25-16. The GYNT came back in the second set and took a 10-3 lead and sailed to the 25-14 set win. Brazil led 16-12 in the third set. The U.S. used a Brazil error and ace by Fitzmorris to pull to within two. But a U.S. hitting error and Brazil ace kept the South Americans in the lead and they went on to win. Brazil led the fourth set 9-6 when the U.S. scored on a Brazil error and Lee kill to pull to within one. The U.S. GYNT tied the score at 10-10 on another Lee attack and Brazil error. With the score still tied 12-12, the U.S. took the lead for good on a Brazil error, a block by Foecke and Poulter and a Foecke kill.